(a) Any plaintiff or plaintiffs may join any causes of action, against any defendant or defendants; and the defendant may set up in his or her answer any and all cross claims whatever, whether in the nature of recoupment, setoff or otherwise, which shall be designated counterclaims.
2-614.Joinder of causes of action and use of counterclaims.
Article II. Civil Practice · Part 6. Pleading · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceA plaintiff can join any number of claims against a defendant, and a defendant can raise any cross claims as counterclaims, with the court free to order separate trials or try legal and equitable issues together when no jury sits.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/2-614
(b) The court may, in its discretion, order separate trial of any causes of action, counterclaim or third-party claim if it cannot be conveniently disposed of with the other issues in the case. Legal and equitable issues may be tried together if no jury is employed.
Plain-English Summary
Section 2-614 opens the door wide on joinder. Subsection (a) lets a plaintiff join any causes of action against any defendant, and lets a defendant set up in the answer any cross claims at all -- whether recoupment, setoff, or otherwise -- designating them as counterclaims. The section doesn't limit how many claims or how varied they can be.
Subsection (b) gives the court a release valve: if a joined cause of action, counterclaim, or third-party claim can't conveniently be handled with the rest of the case, the court can order it tried separately. And where no jury is involved, legal and equitable issues can be tried together in the same proceeding, rather than split across separate tracks.
This section works hand in hand with 2-608's counterclaim rules and 2-613's provisions on pleading multiple claims and defenses -- together they describe how broadly a single Illinois lawsuit can grow before a court steps in to manage it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many claims can a plaintiff join in one Illinois lawsuit?
Any causes of action against any defendant or defendants. Section 2-614(a) does not cap the number or restrict the type of claims that can be joined.
What kinds of counterclaims can a defendant raise?
Any cross claims at all, whether in the nature of recoupment, setoff, or otherwise, designated as counterclaims in the answer.
Can a court separate joined claims for trial?
Yes. If a cause of action, counterclaim, or third-party claim can't be conveniently disposed of with the rest of the issues, the court may order it tried separately.
Can legal and equitable claims be tried together?
Yes, when no jury is employed. Subsection (b) allows legal and equitable issues to be tried together in that circumstance.
Does joining many claims risk jury confusion in Illinois practice?
The statute leaves that judgment to the trial court, which can order separate trials under subsection (b) whenever convenience calls for it.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: joinder of claims illinoiscounterclaim joinder illinoisseparate trial illinois civil case